Elf

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This page is about the lore of elves in general. For the playable races, see Night elf (playable), Nightborne (playable), Blood elf (playable), and Void elf (playable).
Elves
Night elves artwork cropped.jpg
Night elves, the first elven race of Azeroth
Faction/Affiliation Various
Character classes

WoW Icon update.png Death knight, Demon hunter, Druid, Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior
Arcanist, Assassin, Archdruid, Archer, Botanist, Dragonhawk rider, Ranger, Falconer, Felsworn, Huntress, Hippogryph rider, Necromancer, Priestess of the Moon, Ranger, Scout, Sentinel, Sorcerer, Warden

Icon-RPG.png Beastmaster, Dead shot, Ley walker, Savagekin
Racial capital Alliance Bel'ameth
Alliance Telogrus Rift
Horde Silvermoon City
Horde Suramar City
  Formerly Alliance Darnassus †
Neutral Zin-Azshari †
Racial leader(s) Alliance  Shandris Feathermoon
Alliance  Mordent Evenshade
Alliance  Alleria Windrunner
Alliance  Magister Umbric
Alliance  Vereesa Windrunner
Horde  Lor'themar Theron
Horde  Thalyssra
Racial mount IconSmall Saber2.gif Saber cat
IconSmall Hippogryph2.gif Hippogryph
IconSmall Unicorn.gif Unicorn
IconSmall Horse.gif Horse[1]
IconSmall Voidstrider.gif Voidstrider
IconSmall Dragonhawk.gif Dragonhawk
IconSmall Hawkstrider.gif Hawkstrider
IconSmall ManaSaber.gif Manasaber
Homeworld Azeroth
Area(s) Azeroth, Outland, Alternate Draenor, Telogrus Rift
Language(s) Darnassian, Thalassian, Shalassian

“Magic has long been a vice of the elves. It shaped us, and lifted us out of the darkness - but without balance, it also threatens to unmake us.”

Valewalker Farodin[2]

An elf is a long-lived humanoid species native to Azeroth known for keen perception, grace, and great spellwork. They are one of the longest-lived species on Azeroth. The specific origins of elves remained lost to history for millennia,[3] until Brann Bronzebeard confirmed that the first elves were originally dark trolls that were transformed by the Well of Eternity.[4]

Elves come in many flavors in Azeroth, the four most dominant of which are playable races in World of Warcraft: night elves and void elves for the Alliance, and blood elves and nightborne for the Horde.

Racial history

There are several groups of elves in the Warcraft universe, but all have descended in one way or another from the kaldorei, also known as night elves, who evolved from a group of dark trolls living on the shores of the Well of Eternity around 15,000 years before the First War.[5]

Kaldorei, the night elves

Main article: Night elf

The night elves are a powerful and mystical race whose origin extends back to ancient times. Under the Kaldorei Empire, Azeroth's most magical and advanced civilization which at its peak spanned the breadth of ancient Kalimdor, the night elves came into a horrific conflict with the Burning Legion and achieved a pyrrhic victory that sundered Kalimdor's landmass into the continents of the present age. The devastation wrought by the chain of events birthed in conceit caused a wholesale shift in direction. Under the leadership of Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage, the kaldorei society abandoned the ways of arcane magic usage and built a radically different society centered around the worship of Elune, in harmony with the natural world and its denizens through the ways of druidism.[6]

Quel'dorei, the Highborne

Main article: Highborne

The Highborne were the upper class and a sect of the ancient Kaldorei Empire composed of the favored servitors of Queen Azshara.[7][8] They were largely responsible for the War of the Ancients, and most of them who had allied with the demons and survived the war were turned into satyrs or naga. Those who allied with the Kaldorei Resistance before the last battle of the war found themselves exiled from Kalimdor for their use of magic, and eventually became the high elves of the Eastern Kingdoms. Although to this day there are surviving Highborne, they are not treated as nobility by modern night elf society. The Shen'dralar, a group that resisted the Burning Legion, were able to defend Eldre'Thalas but in doing so became isolated from the rest of night elven society throughout the Long Vigil.[9] Following the Cataclysm, the Shen'dralar led by Archmage Mordent Evenshade negotiated successfully to rejoin their kaldorei brethren in Teldrassil.[10] On the Broken Isles, the Court of Farondis are Highborne unliving ghosts located in the Ruins of Nar'thalas of Azsuna, cursed and punished by Queen Azshara in a terrible display of power for disobeying her and trying to destroy the Well of Eternity with the Tidestone of Golganneth.[11]

Shal'dorei, the nightborne

Main article: Nightborne

The nightborne were once night elves of Suramar. At the climax of the War of the Ancients, the Great Sundering blasted most of Suramar to the bottom of the Great Sea, although some of it remained above shore in the Broken Isles due to the efforts of the resident Highborne, who crafted a magical shield that kept the center of their city together. This shield would stay up for 10,000 years, as the night elves believed the world outside of Suramar had been destroyed. Under their shield they would evolve into the Nightborne, reliant on their source of power, the Nightwell, for nourishment. At its height, the nightborne civilization is thought to have reached the pinnacle of elven magical prowess and sophistication, continuing the only unbroken line of magical progression of the mighty Kaldorei Empire.[12]

Quel'dorei, the high elves

Main article: High elf

The high elves descend from the night elf Highborne who settled in the Eastern Kingdoms millennia after the Great Sundering, founding the kingdom of Quel'Thalas under the rule of the Sunstrider dynasty. For nearly 7,000 years, the high elven society centered on the sacred Sunwell, a magical fount created from a vial of pure arcane energy from the first Well of Eternity. Nourished and strengthened by the Sunwell's potent energies, the high elves prospered within the verdant forests north of Lordaeron. However, betrayal from within would lead to devastating invasion from the Scourge would fracture their society and change them forever. In the aftermath, approximately 90% of their population had been massacred by the undead, and only a fraction of the high elves refused to rename themselves blood elves.[13] Since they did not gather in any significant numbers and are a very small group of individuals, they are a rare sight across Azeroth and are commonly mistaken for blood elves.[14]

Sin'dorei, the blood elves

Main article: Blood elf

Blood elves are high elves who changed their name in memory of those who had fallen during the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas. Under the leadership of their regent, Lor'themar Theron, the sin'dorei retook much of Quel'Thalas from the Scourge and looked to reuniting with Prince Kael'thas on Outland, not knowing that the latter had came under the sway of the Burning Legion's supreme commander, Kil'jaeden. Following the Battle for Quel'Danas, the essence of the naaru M'uru was used to purify the Sunwell as a fount of both arcane and holy energy. Inspired by the Sunwell's rebirth, the blood elves have since entered into a shining new era in their ancient race's history.[15]

Ren'dorei, the void elves

Main article: Void elf

Void elves are a race of Void-infused elves affiliated with the Alliance. Their origins lie with a group of blood elves following Magister Umbric who were exiled from Silvermoon City because of their research into the Void. They were transformed by void ethereals but rescued by Alleria Windrunner, who had gained mastery of the Void herself on Argus and taught them how to control their dark powers. Permanently transformed by the process, they pledged their loyalty to the Alliance and to her as their new leader.[16] The void elves seek to utilize their great but dangerous powers for the sake of defending Azeroth, and to prove those who doubt or judge their abilities wrong, all the while resisting the Void's call to madness.[17]

Darkfallen, the undead elves

Main article: Darkfallen

The Darkfallen are undead elves once raised by Arthas Menethil following the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas, prowling the lands as either dark rangers or blood mages for the Scourge.[18] When the Lich King slowly began to lose his power after Illidan Stormrage's failed attempt to kill him in Northrend, many Darkfallen had their conscious will restored. They later joined Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken in Undercity, as elite agents and personal guards of the Banshee Queen. During the War of the Thorns, the Forsaken raised fallen night elves as dark rangers, creating a new generation of Darkfallen.[19]

San'layn, the darkfallen

Main article: San'layn

The San'layn are a sect of vampiric darkfallen, once led by Blood-Queen Lana'thel. They were introduced to the Scourge after Arthas' second visit to Northrend when he killed the Sunfury, blood elves seeking to avenge their fallen brethren by helping Illidan Stormrage's attempt to destroy the Lich King.[20] They are known for their guile and dark magic, particularly the manipulation of blood and shadow magic,[21] and excel at using both to weaken their enemies and empower their own capabilities.[22]

Anatomy and physiology

Night elf fighting a blood elf.

The Well of Eternity's arcane energies are the primary reason for the existence of the elves, and the night elves are described as having an arcane essence, so it makes sense that they and all elves derived from them would be magical in nature. All elves are exceptionally long-lived and, at one point, were immortal, though the main races of elves have lost their immortality. Further, all elves possess glowing eyes, a sign of the use of great spells — a being of any race can exhibit glowing eyes while focusing or casting a particularly powerful spell, but the trait is innate in only a few races, most of which are demons or undead.

Elves have several characteristics in common. All have unusually acute senses and are able to see clearly even in low-light conditions. As a general rule, elves are also slim, athletic, and graceful. Furthermore, they all have large pointed ears that tend to be greeted with admiration or mockery by other races.[3] Typically, night elves have longer ears than high/blood elves, whereas the latter's point upward rather than backward. A characteristic of elves on Azeroth is their unusual eyebrows, which extend beyond their faces, resembling whiskers or antennae. There has been no official coverage of this anatomical oddity, despite it being present in all official artwork.

Though biologically and physiologically high elves, blood elves have glowing emerald-green eyes, courtesy of their exposure to the fel magic in place around Outland and Quel'Thalas.

Since their transformation, void elves have extremely pale skin, blue eyes, and hair with varying shades of purple and blue - sometimes with tentacle-shaped dreadlocks. Their blood also became purple while their voice now rings with a dark echo. By the time of Dragonflight, some void elves were seen with their high/blood elven appearance unchanged.

The undead Darkfallen mostly retain the builds of their still-living kin. Their once lustrous skin is now pale and lifeless, the glow of their eyes displaced by a seething rage of crimson. The San'layn also retain the builds of their still-living kin. However, their flesh appears necrotic and, though universally pale, ranges from fleshy pinks and red to gray and light green. Their eyes have white, yellow, green, blue, or black glows. Some San'layn have clawed fingers and ears more closely resembling those of a bat, and a few have developed wings.

Races evolution

Night elves, high elves, blood elves, felblood elves, undead elves, the wretched (old models.)

Notable

Night elves

Name Description Status
IconSmall Azshara.gifIconSmall AzsharaQ.gif Queen Azshara Former Queen of the Kaldorei Empire prior to the War of the Ancients. Alive
IconSmall Stormrage.gifIconSmall Illidan.gif Illidan Stormrage The Betrayer, Lord of the Illidari and former Lord of Outland. Alive
IconSmall Malfurion.gif Malfurion Stormrage Archdruid of the Kaldorei, co-leader of the Cenarion Circle. Alive
IconSmall Tyrande.gifIconSmall TyrandeDark.gifIconSmall TyrandeNight.gif Tyrande Whisperwind High Priestess of Elune, leader of the Sisterhood of Elune. Alive
IconSmall Shandris.gif Shandris Feathermoon Leader of the night elves and General of the Sentinel Army. Alive
IconSmall Maiev.gif Maiev Shadowsong Leader of the Wardens, formerly the jailer of Illidan Stormrage. Alive
IconSmall Jarod.gif Jarod Shadowsong Leader of a Kaldorei security force, last leader of the Kaldorei Resistance. Alive
IconSmall Broll.gif Broll Bearmantle Champion of the Cenarion Circle, once a companion of Varian Wrynn. Alive
IconSmall Kur'talos.gif Kur'talos Ravencrest Lord of Black Rook Hold, first leader of the Kaldorei Resistance. Deceased
IconSmall Fandral.gifIconSmall FandralFire.gif Fandral Staghelm Majordomo of Ragnaros and Archdruid of the Flame, formerly of Darnassus. Deceased
IconSmall Highborne Female.gifIconSmall Vashj.gif Lady Vashj Coilfang Matron and leader of Illidan's Naga. Deceased
IconSmall Highborne Male.gifIconSmall Xavius.gif Xavius First of the satyrs and ruler of the Emerald Nightmare. Deceased
IconSmall NightElf Male.gifIconSmall Worgen Male.gif Ralaar Fangfire The first worgen and leader of the Druids of the Scythe. Deceased
IconSmall Altruis.gif Altruis the Sufferer Second-in-command and Champion of the Illidari. Alive
IconSmall Cordana.gif Cordana Felsong Former Warden and Khadgar's bodyguard, later corrupted by Gul'dan. Deceased

Nightborne

Name Description Status
IconSmall Elisande.gif Grand Magistrix Elisande Grand Magistrix of Suramar prior to the Nightfallen rebellion. Deceased
IconSmall Nightborne Male.gif Star Augur Etraeus Astromancer who sought answers to the great mysteries of the universe. Deceased
IconSmall Thalyssra.gif First Arcanist Thalyssra First Arcanist of Suramar and leader of the nightborne resistance. Alive
IconSmall Nightborne Female.gif Ly'leth Lunastre Matron of House Lunastre, formerly Elisande's advisor. Alive
IconSmall Oculeth.gif Chief Telemancer Oculeth Chief telemancer and creator of the teleportation network of Suramar City. Alive
IconSmall Valtrois.gif Arcanist Valtrois Foremost expert on leyline magical conduits and the Nightwell. Alive

High elves

Name Description Status
IconSmall Vereesa.gif Vereesa Windrunner Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant. Alive
IconSmall Dath'Remar.gif Dath'remar Sunstrider Founder and first king of Quel'Thalas, creator of the Sunwell. Deceased
IconSmall Anasterian.gif Anasterian Sunstrider Last king of Quel'Thalas, slain by Arthas Menethil during the Fall of Quel'Thalas. Deceased
IconSmall HighElf Male.gif Talthressar Co-founder of Allerian Stronghold, lieutenant of Alleria and the Sons of Lothar. Unknown
IconSmall HighElf Male.gif Auric Sunchaser High elf representative in Quel'Thalas and ruler of Allerian Stronghold. Alive
IconSmall HighElf Male.gif Thalorien Dawnseeker Former wielder of Quel'Delar, killed by the death knight Morlen Coldgrip. Deceased

Blood elves

Name Description Status
IconSmall Kael'thas.gifIconSmall KaelWretched.gif Kael'thas Sunstrider Last scion of the Sunstrider dynasty and lord of the blood elves. Deceased
IconSmall Lor'themar.gif Lor'themar Theron Regent Lord and representative of the blood elves on the Horde Council. Alive
IconSmall Halduron.gif Halduron Brightwing Ranger-General of Silvermoon and leader of the Farstriders. Alive
IconSmall Liadrin.gif Lady Liadrin Matriarch of the Blood Knights and leader of the Sunsworn. Alive
IconSmall Rommath.gif Grand Magister Rommath Grand Magister of Quel'Thalas, formerly Archmage of the Kirin Tor. Alive
IconSmall Aethas.gif Archmage Aethas Sunreaver Leader of the Sunreavers and Archmage of the Kirin Tor. Alive
IconSmall BloodElf Male.png Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher High Examiner and leader of the Reliquary. Alive
IconSmall BloodElf Male.png Voren'thal the Seer Leader of the Scryers, once a close advisor to Prince Kael'thas. Alive
IconSmall BloodElf Male.png Magister Astalor Bloodsworn Co-creator of the Blood Knights, formerly advisor to Prince Kael'thas. Alive
IconSmall Kayn.gif Kayn Sunfury High-ranking demon hunter and lieutenant of Illidan Stormrage. Alive
IconSmall Valeera.gif Valeera Sanguinar High King Anduin Wrynn's personal spy and Shadow of the Uncrowned. Alive

Darkfallen

Name Description Status
IconSmall SylvanasHE.gifIconSmall Sylvanas3.gif Sylvanas Windrunner Former Warchief of the Horde, Banshee Queen of the Forsaken, and Ranger-General of Quel'Thalas. Active
IconSmall Dar'khan.gifIconSmall UndeadElf Male.gif Dar'Khan Drathir Commander of the Scourge in Quel'Thalas. Former magister in the Convocation of Silvermoon. Deceased
IconSmall Koltira.gif Koltira Deathweaver Champion of the Knights of the Ebon Blade and death knight of the Horde. Active
IconSmall BloodElfDeathKnight Female.gif Lyandra Sunstrider Distant relative of the Sunstrider family and the latest wielder of Felo'melorn. Deceased
IconSmall DarkWarden.gif Sira Moonwarden Dark Warden of the Banshee loyalists, formerly interim leader of the Wardens. Active
IconSmall UndeadNightElf Female.gif Delaryn Summermoon Dark Ranger, formerly commander of the Ashenvale forces and captain of the Darnassian City Guard. Active
IconSmall UndeadElf Female.gif Verana Darkfallen void elf in Telogrus Rift, formerly a ranger and second-in-command of Alleria Windrunner. Active

San'layn

Name Description Status
IconSmall San'layn Queen.gif Blood-Queen Lana'thel Leader of the San'layn, former wielder of Quel'Delar. Deceased
IconSmall San'layn Prince.gif Prince Keleseth Overlord of Howling Fjord and ambassador to the vrykul. Member of the Blood Prince Council. Deceased
IconSmall San'layn Prince.gif Prince Valanar Overlord of Borean Tundra and master of Naxxanar. Member of the Blood Prince Council. Deceased
IconSmall San'layn Prince.gif Prince Taldaram Tasked to collect artifacts in Ahn'kahet for the Scourge. Member of the Blood Prince Council. Deceased
IconSmall San'layn Prince.gif Prince Navarius Masterminded the creation of the massive flesh titan, Thrym, and likely other flesh giants. Killable
IconSmall San'layn Prince.gif Blood Prince Dreven Sought with a group of San'layn to join the Horde during the Fourth War. Deceased

Void elves

Name Description Status
IconSmall Alleria3.gif Alleria Windrunner Leader of the void elves, formerly ranger captain of Quel'Thalas. Alive
IconSmall Umbric.gif Umbric Representative of the void elves, once a magister of Quel'Thalas. Alive
IconSmall VoidElf Male.gif Celosel Nightgiver Captain who helped Alleria and Turalyon to hunt down Sylvanas. Alive
IconSmall VoidElf Male.gif Ramaniel Agent of the Timewalkers on the Dragon Isles. Alive

Half-elves

Name Description Status
IconSmall Arator.gif Arator the Redeemer Son of Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner and a leader of the Silver Hand. Alive
IconSmall WindrunnerTwin.gifIconSmall WindrunnerTwin.gif Galadin and Giramar Twin sons of Rhonin and Vereesa Windrunner. Alive
IconSmall Alodi.gif Alodi The first Guardian of Tirisfal and wielder of Ebonchill. Active

In the RPG

Icon-RPG.png This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Notes and trivia

  • Originally, the race now known as high elves were simply called "elves", and conformed to the stereotypical fantasy elves. Though there were several hints of the night elves in various Warcraft media, the original elves were not referred to as "high elves" until The Last Guardian.[23]
  • The elves of Warcraft, like almost all elves in modern fantasy, are inspired in some regard by the elves of Tolkien's books, who were known as the Eldar or the Quendi. In Warcraft, like in JRRT's works, the elves are one of the oldest races, and became divided into subraces over time. As a quieter connection, "eldar" means starpeople, and kaldorei means "children of the stars".
  • Though the vast majority of night elf lore is original on the part of Blizzard, they draw parallels to the Sidhe ("SHEE") of Irish mythology and other beings of Celtic myth (except for the chimaera and the hippogryph, who are Greek). Night elven architecture has also been said to draw upon Nordic and Japanese designs, while the ancient night elves' architecture is more Graeco-Roman. Blizzard has also said that night elves were based on traditional fantasy dark elves but with a twist.[24]
    • See each specific race page "Notes and trivia" section for cultural inspirations of each type of elf.
  • Half-elves originate from Norse mythology and were borrowed by Tolkien, which he called the Peredhil. The most famous half-elf in Tolkien's legendarium, is perhaps Elrond Halfelven. (Unlike in some other fantasy genres, the Half-elven are not a distinct race from Elves and Men, and before they die must ultimately choose which race to belong to.)
  • The division between "light" and "dark" elves is based in the Norse myth of the Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar.

Gallery

Videos

See also

References